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How To Use Shaman Drums For Chic Southwest Home Decor

Looking for a great way to give your home decor western or rustic style? Try including Shaman drums along with your rustic home furnishings like I did. My love for these beautiful, American Indian drums started right after my husband and I bought our new home last year. We knew that because of our love for the old west, we wanted true southwestern and Native American style decor with unique rustic home furnishings. Once that was decided I started filling my new home with awe-inspiring southwestern and Native American pieces that would go with my southwest decor and entertain my visitors by telling a story at the same time. That is when I discovered how easy it was to give my home that beautiful southwest style that you see in designer home magazines, by decorating with shaman drums.

Maybe you are like me when I first started hearing about the history and meaning of Native American drums, and have only a rough idea of what the Shamans drum is. Or, maybe you are wondering how to choose the right drum to play in your Shaman drum circle. Whatever the case, it is necessary to understand the role this raw hide drum plays in Native American culture so you can develop a true appreciation for its art and let its power lead you in the right direction.

If you are fortunate enough to attend or be involved in a Shamanic ceremony you will notice that the Shaman, or spiritual leader, will beat a unique looking raw hide hand drum with a soft drum stick to create the soothing monotonous beat used to take him to an altered mental state. During this altered state of mind, called the Shamanic journey, the spiritual leader receives healing and spiritual powers he uses to guide his people. If you look closely at the Shaman's drum you will see that unlike many other leather Native American drums used for tribal ceremonies, these rustic drums have natural raw hide, stretched over a wooden frame on one side and are laced with raw hide string on the other side. They don't have the loop hold like many other Indian drums do. A drum fashioned in this way gives you a natural hand holding position so you can fully control the drum and easily create the sound that is very important in bringing out the right tones necessary to guide you on your Shamanic journey.

You will also see that many Shamans drums have symbolic painted designs on the rawhide drum face. These unique American Indian paintings often depict a map of the universe or symbols of spiritual powers you can use to aid you in your spiritual journeying experience. If you are using the drum for Shamanic work, take time to study the significance of the painting. Since the southwestern symbols have a special power that directs the journey, you want to make sure it is in line with your own practices and guides you in that direction.

Also, I always make sure to check the quality of the drum before purchasing. It's important to check that there are no thin places at the points where the cords of the drumhead are connected. This is vital to the quality and life of your Shaman drum and will ultimately save you money by not having to have it repaired or buy a new one.

A lot of attention is placed on the drum alone but it's also important to choose the right striking mallet so you can enjoy the resonating sound of these native drums to its fullest. You will realize that there are many different types of mallets that evoke different tones from the drum and although I personally like using a mallet with a fur covered head, it is a matter of what you like best. Whether you are buying Native American musical instruments such as drums as part of your home decor or are using it to guide you in your spiritual journey, you will no doubt love the authentic Native American style and western charm brought to your life and home by Shaman drums.

About the Author

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and author offering free information online about how to use Shaman drums for drumming circles and for chic southwestern home decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

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